Approximately 270 students from 24 schools in the Greater Accra Region gathered for this year’s Lifelink Junior High Schools Model United Nations Conference, celebrating the 79th Anniversary of the United Nations.
The young delegates, representing various UN member states, engaged in spirited debates and discussions on pressing global issues, including child labor, exploitation, climate change, and global poverty. The one-day event, held at the Accra International Conference Centre, was themed “Protecting the Future: Breaking the Cycle of Exploitation and Disparity Towards a Sustainable World.”
The conference attracted members of the diplomatic community, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives from the United Nations System in Ghana. Dr. Wilfred Ochan, Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Ghana, addressed the participants, condemning child exploitation worldwide and urging the young delegates to become catalysts for positive change.
“Your voices have the power to cause change. Together, let’s champion the rights of the marginalized,” Dr. Ochan stated. He commended Lifelink Friendship Schools Ghana for creating a platform that enhances future leaders’ understanding of global issues.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, highlighted the importance of prioritizing equity for future generations, asserting that young people symbolize hope. He spoke about the government’s ongoing efforts to combat child labor and exploitation, calling for collective action to effect meaningful change.
“Use your voices and skills to demand a better future; by coming together, we can amplify our voices,” he urged.
As part of the event, selected students will have the opportunity to represent Ghana at next year’s Middle School Model United Nations session at the UN Headquarters in New York.
